Container



May 30, 1967 c. NURRE ET AL CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 12,1965 MAS C.NURRE DALE L.RITTER WILLIAM W.Mc FARLAND s R O N E V N THOFiG.3

B 6 SW4 14 TTORN EY CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MRR J TUTR NNWA W mm MmwW O HM T m I Y W B T. C. NURRE ET AL May 30, 1967 Filed April 12, 1965 ArTo vEY United States Patent Ofifice 3,322,321 Patented May 30, 19673,322,321 CONTAINER Thomas C. Nurre, Downers Grove, 111., William W. Mc-Farland, Wooster, Ohio, and Dale L. Ritter, St. Louis, Mo., assignors toInternational Paper Company, New

York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 12, 1965, Ser. No.447,350 14 Claims. (Cl. 229-43) This invention relates to containersand, more particularly, to a container formed of corrugated paperboardand of the type adapted to carry a relatively large and heavy articleand to inserts for such container.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a container whichis formed from a flat one-piece blank which is simple in constructionand economical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a container which is readily adapted to besecured to an article carrying skid.

Another object is to provide an article carrying skid for a containerhaving means to enable the container to be lifted from the bottom.

A further object is to provide an insert for a container Which is formedfrom a flat one-piece blank which is simple in construction andeconomical to manufacture.

Another object is to provide an insert for a container having means toreinforce and cushion the side walls and corners of the container.

Another object is to provide a lifting frame for a container havingmeans to enable the container to be lifted from the top.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionand drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which a container of thisinvention is made;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a container formed from the blankof FIG. 1 and showing its rela tionships with an article carrying skid,inserts and a lifting frame;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a blank from which an insert of this inventionis made;

FIG. 7 is a perspective View showing the first stage of folding theblank of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the blank of FIG. 6 inits final folded position;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified version of aninsert in its final folded position;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a blank from which a further modified insertof the present invention is made; and,

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view (with parts broken away)showing the relationships of the corrugated paperboard and the securingstrap in greater detail.

The container C, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, is formed from a flatone-piece blank 1 (FIG. 1) of suitable sheet material, preferablycorrugated paperboard.

Such paperboard, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3, consists of acorrugated medium 2 (shown along the flutes) sandwiched between an innerliner 3 and an outer liner 4. A flexible reinforcing and securing strap5, preferably of metal, is positioned within the paperboard and betweenthe corrugated medium and the outer liner and is secured to such linerand medium by a suitable means, such as glue. As shown in FIGS. 3 and11, the strap tends to crush the corrugated medium somewhat in the areaof application. In practice, the crushing is almost imperceptible.

The blank 1 has a horizontal fold line 10, vertical fold lines 11, andslots 12 which generally define parts including side walls 13, anattaching flap 14, and top flaps 15. The blank is provided with means,in the form of square-shaped cutouts 16, which define o enings 17 whichare adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck. The blank isfurther provided with means, in the form of substantially parallelmarking lines 18, which define therebetween a single printed zone orband to mark the location of the strap 5, and with means, in the form ofa tear tab 8 1 and tear tape 81, which enable the container to be openedwith great ease, as will later be explained in greater detail.

The article carrying skid 20, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, consists of aplurality of wooden rails 21 and a plurality of wooden cleats 22 securedtogether at right angles to each other, by a suitable means, such asnails N. The rails are disposed in spaced parallel relation with eachother and are of sufficient thickness to define o enings 23 which areadapted to accommodate the forks or fingers of a lift truck. It shouldalso be observed that the rails and cleats are dimensioned and securedtogether in such a manner to provide a container receiving andpositioning ledge 24, as shown most clearly in FIG. 3.

The insert 30, as shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8, is formed from a flatone-piece blank (FIG. 6) of suitable sheet corrugated paperboard of thesame forming the container blank 1. vertical fold lines 41 whichgenerally define means, in the form of a first panel 42, to reinforceand cushion a side wall of the container; means in the form of a pair ofsecond panels 43 and a pair of third panels 44 to reinforce and cushionthe portions of such side wall adjacent the corners of the container andmeans, in the form of a pair of fourth panels 45, to cushion andreinforce the portions of the side walls connected to such side wall andadjacent the corners of the container. The blank is further providedwith means, in the form of square-shaped cutouts 45, which defineopenings 47 which are adapted to mate with the openings 17 in thecontainer C and to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

The dimensions of the insert 30 with respect to the container C are suchthat it may be slidably received within the container and the height ofthe insert is less than the height of the side walls 13 of the containerby a distance sufficient to enable a lifting frame 60, the detailedstructure of which is further to be described, to be slidably positionedwithin the container, with portions of its lower surface resting on thetop ledge 48 of the insert 30, as shown in FIG. 2, and still enable thetop flaps 15 of the container to be folded into their closed position.

A modified version 50 of the insert 30 is shown in FIG. 9. Such insertis identical to insert 39 but is provided with additional means, in theform a pair of fifth panels 56 and a pair of sixth panels 57, to furthercushion and reinforce the portions of the side walls, which are alsoadapted to be cushioned and reinforced by the fourth panels 45, of thecontainer, adjacent the corners.

The lifting frame 60, as shown in FIG. 2, consists of a plurality offirst wooden members 61 and a plurality of second wooden members 62secured together at right angles to each other, by nails (not shown) orother suitable means. It should be observed that the members 61 and 62are dimensioned in such a manner to enable the The blank 40 has liftingframe so to be slidably positioned within the con-' tainer C with itsupper surface substantially flush with the upper edges of the side walls13 of the container C and still enable the top folded into their closedposition.

The container C may be formed from the blank of FIG. 1 by folding theside walls 13 and the attaching flaps 15 of the container to be' flange14 along the vertical fold lines 11 and into the relationships shown inFIGS. 2 and and by stitching the attaching flange 14 to the appropriateside wall 13 to form a manufacturers joint. The container may then becollapsed into a substantially flat condition and shipped in such amanner to the user.

The insert 30 may be partly formed from the blank of FIG. 6 by firstfolding panels 43, 44 and 45 along the fold lines 41 joining the panel42 to the panels 43 and onto panel 42, as shown in FIG. 7, and by gluingthe panels 43 to the panel 42 by zones of glue G. The partly formedinsert 30 may be shipped to the user in this condition and latercompletely formed by folding the panels 44 and 45 along the appropriatefold lines 41 and into the relationships shown in FIG. 8, with thepanels 44 in abutting contact with the panels 43 and the panels 45 atright angles to the panels 44. It should be noted that fold lines 41 maybe in the form of scores, slit-scores or reverse slit-scores, as may berequired to fold the panels into their final positions.

The insert 50 may be formed in a manner similar to the forming of theinsert 30 but requires the additional folding steps necessary to foldthe panels 56 and 57 along the appropriate fold lines 41 and into theirfinal positions, as shown in FIG. 9, with the panels 56 in abuttingcontact with the panels 45 and the panels 57 in abutting contact withthe panels 56.

The container C in its squared and fully assembled condition is slidablypositioned on and secured to the article carrying skid 20, preferablyafter an article, such as a washing machine is placed on andappropriately secured to such skid. Thus positioned, the lower edges ofthe side walls 13 of the container rest upon the container receiving andpositioning ledge 24 of the skid, as shown in FIG. 3.

The container C is secured to the skid It by a suitable means,preferably stapes S, which pass through the outer liner 4, thereinforcing and securing strap 5, the corrugated medium 2, the innerliner 3 and into the wooden cleats 22 of the skid, as shown in FIGS. 3and 4.

'In securing the container to the skid, it is important that the staplesS pass through the strap 5 and it is for this reason that the exactlocation of the strap within the paperboard is clearly marked byparallel marking lines 18. Thus marked, it is a simple matter to insurethat the staples pass through the strap when securing the container tothe skid.

Experience has shown that when nails or staples are driven throughordinary corrugated paperboard, they are very apt to puncture orfracture the outer liner under the relatively small area of the head orcrown. This is especially true when they are driven home with a sharphammer blow as would normally be the case in production work.

It has been found that if the outer liner is reinforced with a thinmetal strap or band which is securely glued to it, this tendency topuncture and tear is eliminated. This is partly due to the spreading ofthe load over a larger area but, more importantly, to the much greaterresistance of the strap to tear.

The container C is adapted to be used in the handling of large, heavyappliances and the like and to be lifted from the top or bottom. Inlifting the container from the top, the entire weight of the article istransmitted in shear through the wood skid 20; through the staples S andinto the bottom edge of the side walls 13 of the container. Similar highshearing forces are experienced as the result of rough handling or edgeand corner drops, producing twist or racking stresses.

Such shearing forces will readily produce tearing by nails or staples inordinary corrugated paperboard and this is especially true where theouter liner has already been punctured or fractured by a hammer blow.Since paper has little resistance to tear, it has been found that a thinmetal strap laminated to it will enable it to withstand these highshearing forces.

It is particularly important that the strap be securely adhered to thepaperboard. This is most important in those designs where the staplesare positioned close to the edge of the corrugated sheet, as it is incontainer C since the strap can easily slide out of the corrugatedpaperboard. It has also been found that adequate holding power isobtained by adhering the strap 5 to the inside face of the outer liner 4and to the corrugated medium 2. In this way, the metal strap is buriedfor better appearance and an extra glue bond is gained on both sides ofthe strap.

In considering various materials to use as the reinforcing strap it hasbeen found that metal, especially light gauge steel, has the propertiesbest suited to this use. Other materials such as filament tapes, wovenfabrics or plastic tapes will either separate into strands or tearreadily when once pierced by the nail or staple and subjected toshearing forces. Other advantages to a metal strap are found in itsabrasion resistance and its electrical and magnetic properties. Theelectrical property can complete a simple electrical circuit between itand the adjacent or opposite metal staple or nail heads. Such a systemcan automatically detect missing staples or those misplaced and notdriven through the metal strap. The magnetic attraction also permits thedetection and measuring of the location of the concealed reinforcingstrap during manufacture.

The inserts 3% are slidably positioned between the side wall 13 of thecontainer and the article (not shown). In this position, as shown inFIGS. 2 and 5, the first panel 42 of each of the inserts cushions andreinforces a side wall 13 of the container; the second and third panels43 and 44 cushion and reinforce the, portions of each such side walladjacent the corners of the container and the fourth panels cushion andreinforce the portions of the side walls connected to each such sidewall and adjacent the corners of the container.

After the inserts 30 are in place in the container, the lifting frame 60is slidably positioned within the container with parts of its lowersurface resting on ledge 48 of each of the inserts 30, as shown in FIG.2. Thus positioned, the upper surface of the lifting frame issubstantially flush with the upper edges of the side wall 13 of thecontainer.

The top flaps 15 of the container are then folded perpendicular to theside walls 13 and into their closed position, where they are secured inplace by appropriate means, such as glue. It should be observed that theflaps 15 retain the lifting frame 69 in position and enable the fingersof a lift truck to pass through the appropriate openings 17 in thecontainer and the appropriate openings 47 in the inserts and under thelower surface of the lifting frame to lift the container from the top.

The container may also be lifted from the bottom by inserting the forksof a lift truck in the openings 23 of the skid 29, in a manner wellknown in the art.

It should also be observed that, if desired, a single insert ofsubstantially tubular configuration may be used in place of the twoinserts 30 and still serve essentially the same functions. A blank forforming the single insert is shown in FIG. 10. The blank has verticalfold lines 71 which define four side wall panels 72 and hingedly connectthem to each other and is provided with a plurality of cut-outs whichdefine, opening 47' which serve the same function as the openings 47 ofinsert 30. The single insert is formed from the blank by folding theside wall panels 72, along the vertical fold lines 71, and into atubular configuration.

To open the container, the tear tab may be grasped between the thumb andforefinger and pulled outwardly thereby tearing the side walls 13 of thecontainer along a tear line defined by tear tape 81. It is, then, asimple matter to slide that portion of the container above the tear lineup and over the article and to lift the container from such articlestill resting on the carrying skid.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a container, an article carrying skid, and a liftingframe, said container having side walls and top flaps, means to securesaid container to said skid, said lifting frame being positioned withinsaid container, said top flaps being folded perpendicularly to said sidewalls to retain said lifting frame within said container, and saidcontainer having means under said lifting frame defining openingsadapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

2. In combination, a container, an article carrying skid and a liftingframe, said container having side walls and top flaps and being formedof corrugated paperboard, said paperboard consisting of a corrugatedmedium sandwiched between an inner liner and outer liner and havingflexible strap positioned therein, means to secure said container tosaid skid through said strap, said lifting frame being positioned withinsaid container, said top flaps being folded perpendicularly to said sidewalls to retain said lifting frame Within said container, and saidcontainer having means under said lifting frame defining openingsadapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

3. In combination, a container and a lifting frame, said containerhaving side walls and top flaps, said lifting frame being positionedwithin said container, said top flaps being folded perpendicularly tosaid side walls to retain said lifting frame within said container, andsaid container having means under said lifting frame defining openingsadapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

4. In combination, a container and wooden cleats, said container havingside walls and being formed of corrugated paperboard, said paperboardconsisting of a corrugated medium sandwiched between an inner liner andouter and having metal strap, said wooden cleats being positioned withinsaid container adjacent said side Walls, means securing said containerto said wooden cleats through said strap, and means for opening thecontainer and separating a portion thereof from said wooden cleats, saidmeans disposed in said side walls adjacent said securing means.

5. In combination, a container, an article carrying skid, two insertsand a lifting frame, said container having side walls and top flaps,means to secure said container to said skid, said inserts being slidablypositioned within said container with their lower edges resting upon theupper surface of said skid, said lifting frame being slidably positioncdwithin said container with its lower surface resting upon the ledgesdefined by the upper edges of said inserts, said top flaps being foldedperpendicularly to said side walls to retain said frame within saidcontainer, and said container and said inserts each having means underthe lifting frame defining openings adapted to accommodate the fingersof a lift truck.

6. In the combination as set forth in claim 5, said skid having meansdefining openings adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

7. In the combination as set forth in claim 5, each of said insertshaving means including a first panel to reinforce and cushion a sidewall of the container, means including a pair of second panels and apair of third panels to reinforce and cushion the portions of said sidewall adjacent the corners of the container, and means including a pairof fourth panels to cushion and reinforce the portions of the side wallsconnected to said side wall and adjacent the corners of the container.

8. In the combination as set forth in claim 7, said second panels beingin abutting contact with said first panel, said third panels being inabutting contact with said second panels and said fourth panels being atright angles to said third panels.

9. In the combination as set forth in claim 5, said container beingformed of corrugated paperboard and said paperboard consisting of acorrugated medium sandwiched between an inner liner and outer liner andhaving fiexible strap positioned therein, said skid consisting of woodenrails and wooden cleats secured together at right angles to each other,parts of said cleats and said rails defining a container receiving andpositioning ledge, said container being positioned with its lower edgesresting on said ledge and means to secure said container to said skidthrough said strap.

10. In the combination as set forth in claim 5, each of said insertshaving means including a first panel to reinforce and cushion a sideWall of the container, means including a pair of second panels and apair of third panels to reinforce and cushion the portions of said sidewall adjacent the corners of the container, means including a pair offourth panels to cushion and reinforce the portions of the side wallconnected to said side wall and adjacent the corners of the containerand means including fifth and sixth panels to further cushion reinforcethe portions of said side walls being cushioned and reinforced by saidfourth panels.

11. In the combination as set forth in claim 10, said second panelsbeing in abutting contact with said first panel, said third panels beingin abutting contact with said second panels, said fourth panels being atright angles to said third panels, said fifth panels being in abuttingcontact with said fourth panels and said sixth panels being in abuttingcontact with said fifth panels.

12. In the combination as set forth in claim 5, said container beingformed of corrugated paperboard and said paperboard consisting of acorrugated medium sandwiched between an inner liner and outer liner andhaving flexible strap positioned therein, said container having meansincludig parallel marking lines to mark. the location of said strapwithin said paperboard, said skid consisting of woden rails and woodencleats secured together at right angles to each other, parts of saidcleats and said rails defining a container receiving and positioningledge, said container being positioned with its lower edges resting onsaid ledge, and means to secure said container to said skid through saidstrap.

13. In combination, a container, an article carrying skid, an insert anda lifting frame, said container having side walls and top flaps, meansto secured said container to said skid, said insert being slidablypositioned within said container with its lower edges resting upon theupper surface of said skid, said lifting frame being slidably positionedwithin said container with its lower surface resting upon the ledgesdefined by the upper edges of said insert, said top flaps being foldedperpendicularly to said side walls to retain said frame within saidcontainer, and said container and said insert each having means underthe lifting frame defining openings adapted to accommodate the fingersof a lift truck.

14. In the combination as set forth in claim 13, said skid having meansdefining openings adapted to accommodate the fingers of a lift truck.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,527,021 2/1925 Wandel 229-491,852,832 4/1932 Beam-an 229-14 2,920,809 1/1960 Bray 229-49 3,073,5001/1963 Goodrich etal.. 229-14 3,145,906 8/1964 Corrinet 229-51 JOSEPH R.LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner,

1. IN COMBINATION, A CONTAINER, AN ARTICLE CARRYING SKID, AND A LIFTINGFRAME, SAID CONTAINER HAVING SIDE WALLS AND TOP FLAPS, MEANS TO SECURESAID CONTAINER TO SAID SKID, SAID LIFTING FRAME BEING POSITIONED WITHINSAID CONTAINER, SAID TOP FLAPS BEING FOLDED PERPENDICULARLY TO SAID SIDEWALLS TO RETAIN SAID LIFTING FRAME WITHIN SAID CONTAINER, AND SAIDCONTAINER HAVING MEANS UNDER SAID LIFTING FRAME DEFINING OPENINGSADAPTED TO ACCOMODATE THE FINGERS OF A LIFT TRUCK.